Pass Code Recovery

Most people call it Password Recovery.  We have chosen to call it Pass Code Recovery.  We would like to point out the distinction between the two.

If you use a password, it is one that is generally easy for you to remember.  We have seen everything from the term password itself to the last four digits of a Social Security Number, Place of Birth, and names of family pets.  Unfortunately, these are all pretty easy to figure out given a little time.  Further, using a data dictionary, if they are common names they can be discovered by mechanical means.

You configured the need for a pass code because you intended to have security or because your boss told you to.  If that is really the case, why not use a pass code that contains letters, numbers and punctuation marks and make it difficult for others to discover.

A simple password might be the name Mary which might mean something special to you.  It could be your name, your spouse's name, your daughter's name, that of any other favorite relative or your neighbor.  A data dictionary will quickly discover it regardless of case.

If you slightly altered the password and turned it into a pass code it might look like Ma!ry which is still easy to remember but will not be discovered by a data dictionary, at least not as quickly.  The more complex you make the pass code (i.e. the more characters you have in your pass code) the less likely someone will be to discover what it is.  An example of that might be Ma!ry%Jo#ne*s.  Now all you have to remember are the punctuation characters and where they go in the string.

Keep in mind that using characters in the lower portion of your keyboard makes it more difficult for someone looking over your shoulder watching you enter your pass code to figure out what your pass code is.  This is because in normal typing the palms of your hands cover that portion of the keyboard.  This is particularly true if you are a fast typist.

Whatever you do, don't assume that you have physical control of your computer.  By that we mean, you are the only one who has access to it.  You would be amazed at the number of people who write their pass code down on a yellow sticky note and attach it to their monitor so it will be easy to find when they need it.  Don't! 

If you have difficulty remembering all the pass codes you have for the various services you access, get a pass code protection file and use it.  There are literally hundreds of them on the market and many available over the internet, some for free.

Change your pass code from time to time.  We don't want to impose paranoia here but it really is a good practice to change your pass code from time to time.  How often will depend on how sensitive your material is and how much exposure it has to other potential users.

So Why do we call it Pass Code Recovery?

We call it Pass Code Recovery because when we figure out what your pass code is (after you have retained us to do so), we then give you the pass code and have you use it to get into your system or your files.  We NEVER use your pass code to access your data.  We don't want to know what is there and don't want the liability for exposing your data to the wrong eyes.  Therefore, our policy is that we simply never look, even if you tell us it is okay to do so.

Why might you need Pass Code Recovery Services?

For starters, if you have an employee who uses files they want to keep secure and that employee has not told anyone else what the pass code is, the pass code leaves your office every day with that employee.  If the employee fails to return for any reason, you now have files you can't get into.

If you have forgotten your pass code you may need assistance.

If you have had to terminate an employee, you may want to alter the pass codes of that employees system and files.  In order to do so you will need to have the old pass code.  If you don't have it, we can get it for you without ever talking to the terminated employee.

There are many other reasons why you might need our services.  When you call us for service please be prepared to establish to our satisfaction that you have the right to access and to know the pass code for whatever it is you are trying to get into.  There is a certain class of people for whom we do not provide pass code recovery services.  Be thankful that we are the way we are!

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